- STRESS
BUSTERS TAKE TO THE STREETS
THE workplace is officially a stressful environment. There are those who thrive on stress and like nothing more than the pressure of a deadline. However, recent reports indicate that for the majority of British businesses, stress is a serious concern with 83 per cent of employers believing that it is having a negative impact on productivity and working relationships. Leading health club LA Fitness is taking to the streets to discover if Formby is the most stressed place in Britain and offer tips on how people can prevent and beat stress.
Their stress busting team will be using questionnaires and small coloured dots which people can place on their hands, and by noting their colour change during the day, evaluate how stressed they are in certain situations. It is estimated that £1.24 billion per year is lost in sickness, absenteeism and lost productivity as a direct result of stress with the figure rising year on year. According to LA Fitness in Formby it's important to recognise your own symptoms of stress, what triggers it and how it affects you.
It is vital that if you are showing any symptoms of stress that you make changes in your life because as well as affecting your performance at work, stress can develop into a major health concern. Stress can suppress the immune system, making you more at risk to colds, infections and illness, cause a rise in your blood pressure and put strain on the heart and circulation leading to heart disease and strokes and reduce mind and spirit making you depressed and suffering from fatigue, insomnia and psychological problems.
But how do you know if you are really stressed or simply just going through a busy period in your life? They advises that you look for tell-tale signs that include being impatient, irritable, snapping at your friends, family and colleagues, being prone to eczema, panic attacks, migraines and irritable bowel syndrome and overindulging in comfort food, cigarettes, drugs or alcohol. Also if you find yourself continuously fidgeting, biting your fingernails, sweating and having clammy palms and your heart races its time to seek out some help.
LA Fitness is looking to help people manage and control their stress levels and has the following advice:-
o Adopt a healthy diet - making sure you eat three regular meals per day - and include plenty of fruit, vegetables and drink lots of water
o Build in some time-out sessions into your life where you can exercise, relax or pamper yourself - you could go for a massage, indulge in a spot of retail therapy, play some sport or just relax at home with a book or film.
o Try not to keep things bottled up - if you have too much on your plate at work speak to your line manager, or if you have a lot to deal with - maybe you are moving house, planning a wedding or just feel a bit under the weather - speak to your friends, family or partner.
o Get some help. Speak to a trained professional who can help pinpoint the exact cause of your stress and help you work out a
programme.
STRESS-BUSTING QUESTIONAIRE
Are you stressed? Would you be able to tell if you were stressed out as opposed to busy? LA Fitness is testing stress levels around the country and to gauge just how stressed you are, answer yes or no to the following statements.
o Are you impatient, easily angered, snappy or irritable?
o Do you get road rage?
o Do you suffer repeated flare-ups of possible stress-related conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, panic attacks, headaches, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome or indigestion?
o Do you feel unhappy, dissatisfied, unappreciated or unloved?
o Do you over indulge in food, cigarettes, drugs or alcohol?
o Do you over perspire, get clammy hands, bite your fingernails, fidget continuously, feel your heart race or have a lump in your throat?
If you answered YES to ONE question you may be under the effects of stress
If you answered YES to TWO questions you should consider getting some help to try and reduce stress levels
If you answered YES to THREE or MORE questions then you need to take a very serious look at how stress could be affecting you and your health. Be honest with yourself and consider where the stress is coming from and how you can change your life and routine to start to reduce the strains.
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- BANK OF ENGLAND BASE RATE WILL WORSEN DEBT CRISIS
DEBT FREE
DIRECT, an independent company that l advice to people with debt problems, warns that the 0.25% rise in the Bank of England base rate signals the start of what will become an increasingly challenging environment for the millions of Britons who have accumulated high levels of debt. It believes that among those most at risk are homeowners who are about to move from low rate fixed mortgages to a variable rate.
Andrew Redmond, Chief Executive, Debt Free Direct said:- "People with mortgages will now pay up to an extra £1.8 billion a year in interest repayments. For many, this will mean the difference between being able to manage their debts and defaulting on interest repayments.
The level of bankruptcies is at its highest since 1994 and we believe that there will be a steady increase in the number of people declaring bankruptcy as a result of the Bank of England's decision."
Debt Free Direct has developed a sophisticated computer model and advises on the best way to deal with debt problems. For free advice, please call 08000 83 67 51.
Debt Free Direct offers the following advice to people who are finding it difficult to make repayments on their debts:-
· Don't ignore the problem. One of the biggest challenges facing some people in debt is to persuade them to address their problems. Too many people ignore them until it's too late
· Draw up a list of your debts and prioritise them. Top priority should be given to your mortgage or rent payments because otherwise you could face losing your home
· If you have a number of creditors and are finding it difficult to make your repayments, take professional advice from a debt advisory service. They can liaise with your creditors on your behalf to help make your repayments more manageable
· Are you missing out on any State benefits that you are entitled to? Well over £1billion worth of benefits goes unclaimed every year
· Look for ways to reduce your expenditure:- Could you cut back on eating out or shopping, for example?
· Think twice before taking on more debt, unless it's to pay off existing debt at a lower rate of interest. Borrowing your way out of trouble often makes the situation worse. Consolidation loans and debt management programmes are best for only a small proportion of people. Other solutions are available which may be more appropriate
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